Threshing-machine.



No. 760,967. PATENTBD MAY 24,1904. M.'DAVIS.

THRESHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION'IILED JAN. 2a, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/TNESSE IN VENTOR W .JZazzraaflaais A TTORNE rs) No. 760,967. I I PATENTBD MAY 24, 1904.

' M. DAVIS.

, THRESHING MACHINE.

ABPLIOATIOH FILED JAN. 28, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 5 By M ATTOHNE rs,

No. 760,967. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

' I M; DAVIS.

THRESHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1903.

N0 MODEL.-

4 8HEETSSHEET 3.

WITNESSES" INVENTOR "m: norms Pe ms ca. woToLmm, WASHINGTON, a. 4;

No. 760,967. PATENTBD MAY 24, 1904.

M. DAVIS.

'THRESHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

W/ TNE SSE S" A TTOHNE YS.

Patented May 24, 1904.

MONROE DAVIS, OF AMES, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WESLEY A. LEHENBAUER, OF AMES, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.-

THRESHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,967, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed January 28, 1903. Serial No. 140,866. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that'I, Mormon DAvIs, a citizen 1 of the United States, and a resident of Ames,

in the county of Woods and Territory of Okla homa, have invented a new and Improved Threshing-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to animprovement in threshing-machines, and has for its object to dispense with the usual cylinder and concave and to provide a series of feed-tables and receptacles which receive the bundles, in which receptacles combined band cutters and con veyers operate to cut the bands of the bundles and feed the freed grain to threshinging-chambers, which chambers have roughened or corrugated surfaces against which the heads .of the grain are forcibly projected by combined heaters and fans, which latter devices in their action not only beat out the ker nels from the straw, but cause the grain or kernels, chaff, and straw to be forcibly carried to a separator also having roughened or corrugated surfaces, against which the grain is projected and by centrifugal motion sepa rated from the chaff and straw, thechaff and straw during the operation of the machine passing out from the separator through the stacker-tube, .while the grain flows down in the presence of a suitableblast of air and is received by conveyers or like devices which conduct the grain to vehicles or receptacles placed to receive it.

The invention consists in the novel con-j struction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and

. pointed out in the claims. 1

Reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificatlon, in which similar characters of reference 1nd1' cate corresponding parts in all the figures.

conveyer at their connection with the hopper. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the drums in which the grain is initially separated from the straw. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the drum shown in Fig. 6, being illustrated in open position; and Fig. 8 is a plan View of an open separating-drum, illustrating the interior construction of the same.

The frame A of the machine is so constructed that a horizontal or side portion ofthe frame is the front, and the material is fed into the said machine at the said front side instead of at an end, as usual; but the threshed grain is delivered at the ends of the machine, while the chaff and straw find an exit at the top or upper portion.

The frame A consists usually, as is illustrated, of corner-posts 10, upper and lower longitudinal or side beams 12 and 13, intermediate sidc uprights 11, upper and lower end beams 14, and upper and lower intermediate transverse beams 1 1, together with suitable bracing or strengthening bars or beams wherever required for strength or to support bearings or parts of the machinery. The frame is supported by suitable axles 15, upon which suitable wheels 16 are mounted.

Feed-tables Bonc or more in number, preferably twoextend outward from the front side of the frame A. Each feed-table consists usually of side boards 17, constructed in sections connected by pivotpins 18, and a flexible bottom 19, made of canvas or, a like material, in which bottom longitudinal slots 20 are produced. The feed-tables at their inner ends have shafts 22 journaled at the under portions of their frames, and these shafts are likewise journaled in bearings 21, supported upon the bottom of the main frame A, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the inner ends of the feed-tables are pivotally connected with the main. frame A at their inner ends, while their outer ends are supported by proper legs 23, adapted to fold against the tables. It will thus be observed that when the tables B are not in use they may be dropped downward and their outer sections folded over upon the inner sections.

The feed device for each table B consists of an endless belt 26, provided with pins extending from its outer face, which belts pass over pulleys 27 on the shaft 22 and pulleys 28 on a shaft 29, one of which latter shafts is located near the outer end of each table, as is best shown in Fig. 3, and the upper stretches of the belts 26 extend along the slots in the bottom 19 of the tables.

Each table B at its inner end leads directly to the inlet-opening 30 of a band-cutting chamber (J, which chambers are preferably of cylindrical formation, and the inlet-openings 30 of said chambers extend practically from end to end. The inner ends of the bandcutting chambers C are closed; but their outer ends are open and enter the sides of threshing-chambers D preferably at their central portions. These threshing-chambers D are shown located near the ends of the frame and are illustrated in detail in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. The threshing-chambers consist of circular or disk-shaped drums, and their side and peripheral surfaces are provided with corrugations 31, preferably exteriorly and interiorly produced; but particularly the said corrugations appear upon the inner faces of the drums constituting the said threshing-chambers D. These drums or threshing-chambers D are usually made of metal and for convenience are constructed in two sections 32 and 33, connected by hinges 34, and are held closed in any approved manner-as, for example, as illustrated one section is provided with hooks 35 and the other with keepers 36 to receive the books. A shaft 37 extends transversely above the central portion of the main frame A, being journaled in supports at'the ends of the said main frame, and this shaft 37 passes through the central portions of the band-cutting chambers C and the threshing-chambers D, being provided between the chambers with a driving-pulley 38, to be connected with any source of power. I l

A spiral blade 39 issecured to the shaft 37 in each band-cutting chamber 0, and these blades serve not only to cut the bands of the bundles supplied to said chambers, but also serve to convey the loosened straw into the threshing-chambers D.

Each inner shaft 22 of a feed-table B is provided with a pulley 40, and belts 41 pass over' the pulleys and pulleys42 on the shaft 37',

whereby the toothed conveyer-belts 26 for the said tables B are driven. Rakes 42 are pivotedto the main frame A, extending over the feed-tables B at a point near their outer ends for the purpose of preventing bundles passing over the feed-tables one above the other, which might tend to block or choke the machine, and these rakes are held as far as desired from the feed-tables B by adjustingframes 43, pivoted to the sides of the feed-tables and having bearing against the under sides of the rake-supports, as is shown in Fig. 2. Such adjusting-frames 43 are held in adjusted position by pawls 44, pivoted to the tables and engaging teeth at the sides of the adjusting-frames 43, as is shown in Fig. 3.

In each drum or threshing-chamber D a combined fan and beater D is secured to the shaft 37. This beater-fan is constructed with a multiple of members, (preferably four, as illustrated,) and each member in the operation of the beater-fan closely approaches the corrugations 31 in the drum or threshing-chamber D, in which it revolves. The blades or members 45 of the beater-fan D have, preferably, the formation of a compound curve in end View and in cross-section, as is illustrated in Fig.2, and from the top rear portion of each drum or threshing-chamber D a pipe is upwardly conducted, which pipes are designated as D and D and are connected with opposite sides of a separator E, supported above the main frame A by standards 46 or their equivalents, attached usually to the said main frame, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The separator E consists of a horizontally located disk-shaped or circular receptacle having corrugations 47 in its sides, and said rewceptacle is closed at the top except at its center and is provided with a funnel-shaped or tapering bottom 48. Atube 49 extends through the central'portion of the separator E from top to bottom, which tube is provided with vertical openings and 51' therein oppositely disposed, as is shown in Fig; 4, extending from a point near the top of the tube through its lower end, as is illustrated in Fig. 3, and at the upper end of this center tube 49 a stacker pipe or tube D' is mounted to turn, through which the chaff and straw find an exit, while the grain or kernels threshed from the straw slide down the tapering bottom 48 of the separator and out through the openings 50 and 51, above referred to.

The separator E is divided into compartments 6 and a by two corrugated partitions 52 and 52. The partition 52. extends from one side of the delivery end of a conducting tube D to one side edge of the opening 51 in the center tube 49 of the separator, whilethe partition 52 extends from the opposite side of the delivery end of the opposing conducting-tube D to the side of the opening 50 in the center tube 49 diametrically opposite the junction of the partition 52 with said tube, as is shown in Fig. 4, whereby the opening 51 provides an exit for the grain contained in the compartment 6, while the opening 50 serves a similar purpose for the grain contained in the compartment 0.

Both of the partitions 52 and 52 are more or less spirally disposed, extending tothe outer wall of the separator at more or less of an obtuse angle, so as to cause the material enters ing the separator through the conductingpipes D and D to violently strike'the side walls of the separator and effect the final separation of the grain from the straw and chaff,

' which separation initially takes place in any of the threshing chambers or drums D by reason of the straw being carried by the bandcutting blades 39 with speed and violence in engagement with the corrugated surfaces of the drums D and by the action of the blades of the beater-fans I), which thresh the grain from the heads of the straw-and carry all the material to the rear of the drums D, from which point, through the induced current of air consequent upon the rotation of the beaterfans, the material in the drums is violently forced upward through the conducting pipes or tubes D and l) into the separator E.

When the material enters the separator E, the centrifugal motion which is acquired will tend to make the grain cling to the sides of the separator until by reason of the weight of the grain it falls to the bottom of the separator and passes out through one or the other of the openings 50 and 51 in the central tube of the a separator, while the straw and chaff upon entering the said central tube 49 of the separator is forced into and out through the stacker tube or pipe D by an upward current of air entering the separator at the bottom of its central tube 49, which current of air serves also to clean the grain as it drops out from the separator. This latter current of air is obtained through a fan of any approvedtype driven from the shaft 37 and located in a casing 53, suitably supportedin the main frame A, which casing is provided with an outlet or pipe 54, (shown best in Fig. 3,) terminating at its outlet end in a vertical section 55.

The outlet-section 55 of the air-conducting pipe 54 is made to enter a drum 56, secured to the bottom portion of the center tube 49 of the separator E, and the said drum 56 is made more or less tapering and terminates. in a lower tapering spout 57 in which a dampervalve 58 is located, held normally closed by a end. of this weighted arm 59. Fig. 3'.) This valve 58 is opened by the weight of the grain passing out through the said chute 57 and the said damper 58 is normally'closed in order to prevent any back action of the air forced by the said lower fan out through the said pipe 54.

At the upper or outlet end of the outlet-section 55 of the pipe 54 a spider-support 60 is secured, and in this spider-support a vertical rod 61 is held to revolve, while at the upper rod a winged conical head 62 is constructed, the said conical head being made to enter the bottom portion of the center tube 49 of the separator E, as is shown in Fig. 3. The lower end of the rod 61, carrying the head 62, passes loosely into a sleeve 61, which extends through the vertical section 55 of the pipe 54 and out through the chute-section 57 of the drum 56, and the lower end of this rod 61 bears against a set-screw 63, having a pointed inner end, which set-screw is adjustable in (Shown in dotted lines in the bottom portion ofthe sleeve 61, so that the 6 5 head 62 may be adjusted upward or downward to regulate the rapidity of the discharge of the material from the separator. The head 62 is made to constantly revolve while the machine is in operation, so as to cause the falling grain to cling in falling to the sides of the drum 56, and thus prevent the possibility of the grain dropping into the air-supply pipe 54. This head 62 is revolved by placing fan-blades 64 on the rod 61 within the upper terminal portion 55 of the air-supply pipe 54, and the air in passing through the pipe 54 by contact with the fan-blades 64, which are of spiral formation, causes the rod 61 to rapidly revolve.

Two otftake-pipes 65 and 66 for the cleaned grain are located preferably at the rear portion of the main frame A, as is shown in Fig. 2. These pipes or tubes 65 and 66 extend from a centrally-located hopper 67, and usually each pipe 65 and 66 has a downwardlyextending terminal section 66, as is shown at the left in Figs. 1 and 2. The hopper 67 isjust below the chute 57 of the drum 56, connected with the separator E, and receives grain which falls from-the said separator.

At the central bottom portion of the hop- 1 the said hopper, at which openings .the offtake tubes or the hopper.

A shaft 7 O is journaled in the partitions 68 and practically throughout the length of the ofitake pipes or tubes 65 and 66, and in each offtake pipe or tube 65 and 66 a screw conveyer 71 is secured to the said shaft 7 O, as is shown in Fig. 5. i

Within the space between the partitions 68 of the hopper 67 a pulley 72 is-secured upon the shaft 7 O, and this pulley is connected by a pipes65 and 66 connect with belt 73 with a pulley 74 on the drive-shaft 37, and in this manner the conveyer-shaft 70 is set in motion.

In order that the grain delivered from the separator to the hopper 67 may be directed to either one or the other conveyer in one or the other of the offtake-tubes 65 and 66, a damper-valve 75 is centrallypivoted in the said hopper 67 below the outlet end of the chute 57, as is also shown in Fig. 5, and in one position of the damper-valve 75 the falling grain is conducted to the ofl'ta-ke-pipe 66, while in the other position of the damper-valve the grain is conducted to the ofl'take-pipe 65. An arm 76 is carried upward from an outer end of the pivot of the damper-valve 75, and this arm is connected with rods, chains, or cables The bottom of the hopper inclines IIO 77, extending in direction of the ends of the machine, so that after a wagon, for example, has been loaded from the ofl'take-pipe 66 the attendant when the wagon has received its load can by drawing upon the rod or cable cause the damper-valve 7 5 to be placed in position to conduct the grain to the opposing oiftake-pipe 65, so that 'a wagon may be loaded from said pipe.

This machine is exceedingly simple and durable in its construction and has great capacity. Furthermore, it Will be observed that the concave and cylinder usually employed are entirely dispensed with and that through the medium of the drums D and the separator E a quick and thorough separation of the chaff and straw from the grain is obtained and that the grain is conveyed from the machine expeditiously and without waste and the straw and chaff are automatically delivered from the machine through the stackertube, which has such movement that a stack of the waste material can be readily made.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent I 1. In a threshing machine, a threshingchamber, a bundle-receiving chamber extending from one side of the threshing-chamber and opening at one end into said chamber, and a combined cutter and feeder arranged longitudinally in the bundle-receiving chamber for cutting the bundles and feeding them into the threshing-chamber.

2. In a threshing machine, a threshingchamber, a bundle-receiving chamber having an opening in one side and opening at one end into the threshing-chamber, a spiral cutter arranged longitudinally in the bundle-receiving chamber and serving to cut the bundles and to feed them into the threshing-chamber, a feed device for feeding the bundles to the bundle-chamber at right angles to the line of feed of the cut bundles from the receiving-chamber to the threshing-chamber.

3. In a threshing -machine, a threshingchamber, a bundle-chamber opening at one end into the threshing-chamber, a shaft common to both the threshing and bundle chambers, threshing-blades on the shaft in the threshing-chamber, and spiral cutters on the shaft in the bundle-chamber.

4:. In a threshing machine, a threshingchamber, a pneumatic threshing device in the chamber, a separating-chamber connected with the threshing-chamber, means for pneumatically treating the material in the separatingchamber, and a winnowing device connected with the outlet of the separating-chamber.

5. In a threshing machine, a threshingchamber, a beater-fan mounted to revolve in the chamber, a bundle-feed having delivery connection with the central portion of the chamber, a separator, a fan arranged to deliver a blast of air through the'separator, and 5 a tubular connection between the rear of the threshing-chamber and the separator,-as described.

6. In a threshing-machine, threshing-chambers, feed mechanism arranged to convey the straw to the threshing-chambers, a separating-chamber having roughened walls and connected with the threshing-chambers and a fan connected with the separating-chamber, substantially as described.

7 In athreshing-machine, threshing-chambers, feed mechanism arranged to convey the straw to the threshing-chambers, a beaterfan within each threshing-chamber,a separating-chamber having roughened walls and connected with the threshing-chambers, said separating-chamber having an on tlet for straw and an outlet for grain, and means for passing a current of air through the separatingchamber, as described.

8. In a threshing-machine, a threshingchamber having roughened walls, a beater-fan located within the threshing-chamber, a feed mechanism arranged to convey the straw to the threshingchamber, a separator having roughened walls and connected with the threshing-chamber, and a fan connected with the separator, as described.

9. In a threshing-machine, a threshingchamber having roughened walls, a beater-fan located Within the threshing-chamber, a feed mechanism arranged to convey the straw to the threshing-chamber, .a separator having roughened walls and connected with the threshing-chamber, means for forcing a current of air through the separator, a stackertube connected with the separator, a winnowing mechanism operating in conjunction with the separator, and conveyers arranged to receive the winnowed grain, as set forth.

10. In a threshing machine, threshingchambers, a combined fan and beater in each chamber, a separator provided with a central tube having oppositely-arranged openings, and with partitions extending from the tube to the inner face of the separator, tubes connecting the threshing-chambers with the separator, and a fan discharging into the tube of the separator.

11. In a threshing-machine, a threshingchamber, a combined fan and beater in the chamber, a separator provided with an apertured central tube, a fan, and a pipe leading from the fan to the tube of the separator.

12. In athreshing-machine, a separator provided with an apertured central tube, a discharge-spout leading from the lower end of said tube, a fan, and a pipe leading from the fan into the discharge-spout. V

13. In athreshing-machine, a separator provided with an apertured central tube, a discharge-spout leading from the lower end of the said tube, a fan, a tube leading from the fan into the discharge-spout, and means for controlling the discharge of the material from the separator into the discharge-spout,

14. In a threshing-machine, a separatingchamber having corrugated walls and a peripheral inlet for material, and a fan in connection with the interior of the said separating-chamber at the center thereof, as and for the purpose described. I

15. In a threshing-machine, a separator of circular formation having corrugated walls anda funnel-shaped bottom, and an inlet in one side for material and an outlet for the material at the bottom, a center tube extending through from top to bottom of the said separator, which tube has openings therein extending from a point near the top to the bottom, a stacker-tube located at the upper end of the center tube of the separator, an airsupply connected with the bottom portion of the said center tube, and means for directing a current of air to the inlet for material, as and for the purpose described.

16. In a threshing-machine, a separator of circular formation having corrugated walls and a funnel-shaped bottom, an inlet in one side for the material and an outlet for said material at the bottom, a center, tube extending through from top to bottom of the said separator, which tube has openings therein extending from a point near the top to the bottom,

'a stacker-tube located at the upper end of the center tube of the separator, an air-supply connected with the bottom portion of said center tube, means for directing a current of air to the inlet for material, an extension from the bottom of the center tube of the separator, an adjustable fan-valve located at the junction of the said center tube of the separator and the extension therefrom, and means for rotating the said fan-valve, as described. 7

17. In a threshing-machine, a separator of circular formation having corrugated walls and a funnel-shaped bottom, an inlet in one side for the material and an outlet for said material at the bottom, a center tube extending through from top to bottom of the said separator, which tube has openings therein extending from a point near the top to the bottom, a stacker-tube located at the upper end of the center tube of the separator, an air-supply connected with the bottom portion of said center tube, means for directing a current of air to the inlet for material, an extension from the bottom of the center tube of the separator, an adjustable fan-valve located at the junction of the said center tube of the separator and the extension therefrom, means for rotating the said fan-valve, a chute at the'lower end of the said lower extension from the separator, a weighted valve in the said chute, a hopper beneath said chute, conveyers leading in different directions from said hopper, and means for directing the material delivered by the said chute to either one or the other of said conveyers, as described. 7

18. In a threshing-machine, a separatingchamber having an outlet leading from. its bottom, and a revoluble and head in said outlet.

19. In a threshing-machine, a separatingchamber having an outlet in its bottom, a revoluble winged head in said outlet, blades on the shaft of the head and a fan connected with said outlet.

20. In a threshing-machine, a separatingchamber, a drum secured to the lower end of said chamber, a fan, a pipe leading from the fan into the drum, a revoluble winged head above the end of the said pipe, and blades on the shaft of the head within said pipe.

21. In a threshing-machine, a separatingchamber having a central apertured tube, a drum extending from the lower end of the chamber, a fan, a pipe leading from the fan into the drum, a conical and winged head mounted in the said pipe, means for adjusting said head, and blades on the shaft of the head within the said pipe.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- MONROE DAVIS.

adjustable winged Witnesses:

A. VVILLIAMsoN, .F. E. GoBLn. 

